Top Health and Body Benefits of Practicing Muay Thai

Thai-Muay Thai is a type of ancient martial art that was developed in Thailand, initially taught to soldiers for war training. Also called Thai boxing, worldwide interest in this form of close-combat has grown throughout the years. It has become very popular all over the world. In fact, in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), some of the best professional fighters, particularly in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), use Muay Thai. Avid practitioners of MMA list Muay Thai as one of best fighting styles. To be considered an all-around multi-faceted fighter, they have to learn Muay Thai. One proof that it has grown on a global scale is that it was recently added as an Olympic sport.

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The Muay Thai Fighting Technique

Muay Thai is one of the best forms of self-defense. Its techniques can easily disrupt attackers. In
Muay Thai, each strike and movement should be precise, designed to deliver
painful and debilitating blows to the opponent. Known as “The Art of Eight
Limbs”, Muay Thai utilizes eight parts of the body, mimicking weapons of war.
It uses the hands as the sword and dagger, the shins and forearms are the armor,
the elbow like a mace or hammer and the legs and knees are used as an axe. Thus,
all these body parts are utilized in Muay Thai training.

It may sound daunting, but since the sport is
straightforward and to the point, it is easy to learn. There is no need to
master or memorize complicated movements, so it can be picked up easily,
especially by people who had previous martial arts training.

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Muay Thai Female Enthusiasts

Admittedly, Muay Thai is a male-dominated sport,
often associated with a grungy gym with a bunch of guys around heavy boxing
equipment. However, a considerable
number of female enthusiasts have embraced the sport, in large part due to
female world champions such as Lucy Payne and Caley Reece. Though some women
are built as big and strong as men, the fact is, most women aren’t. Muay Thai is one of those martial arts styles
that work very effectively for women, even though many are considerably lighter
and smaller in built.

For women with no martial arts background, it is
simple to learn because it has no elaborate or complicated moves. As a female,
it is also a great thing to learn Muay Thai in order to be equipped with
self-defense skills.

Muay Thai training has many great benefits on the
body. Females get into it not only as a
competitive sport, but also to stay in shape and to be healthy. Muay Thai body
transformation for females can be dramatic. Here are the top benefits of Muay
Thai:

It makes the body stronger and increases
stamina.

Muay Thai training helps
with core strength and flexibility, giving the body increased stamina and
making it stronger. The number of cardio exercises in Muay Thai will boost
stamina and decrease shortness of breath. Thus, it is a great supplementary
exercise for women who are already avid gym goers.

It effectively burns calories.

Muay Thai effectively
burns calories more than any other type of exercise. One hour of training burns
up about 690 calories, and a 90-minute session can easily burn up to 1,000
calories. The proof is in the pudding: just take a look at a Muay Thai
fighter’s body: hardly an ounce of fat can be seen.

It keeps the body in shape without food
restrictions.

Since a 90-minute Muay
Thai session burns up 1000 calories as previously mentioned, it is safe to say
that women can eat whatever they want (in moderation, of course) while they’re
training. The conditioning and stretching exercises alone will already burn up
at least 300 calories. It works out the
entire body through a combination of cardiovascular exercises and martial arts
techniques. Various muscle groups are utilized during training, which includes
kicks, knees, punches, and clinching. Diet is still important, but Muay Thai
certainly makes the job of being in shape easier.

It will improve overall fitness.

One training session
usually includes many rounds of shadow boxing, strength training, conditioning
exercises, padwork, and heavy bag work.
These types of activities will help improve overall fitness, as it works
out the entire body.

It reduces stress.

Practicing Muay Thai
increases the endorphin and serotonin levels in female bodies. An increased
level of these hormones keeps females in a better mood and reduces stress. It
also lowers cortisol, the hormone responsible for mood swings.

It transforms the female body.

The practice of Muay Thai
will help develop muscles that some women never even knew they had! This is
because it incorporates certain body-weight exercises with a combination of
explosive movements. Consistent training will help women achieve a lean, toned
body.

It lowers blood pressure.

This benefit is
significant because cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death on
a global scale. Hypertension, caused by high blood pressure, is a common heart
disease. To help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, regular exercise is
needed, and one of the best cardio-intensive sports is Muay Thai.

It develops mental toughness.

The practice of Muay Thai
builds mental agility because practitioners are pushed to their limits in each
and every session. While in training, instructors will often push people to
physical and mental limits, developing endurance and helping them acquire that
warrior spirit. The physical challenges of the sport require a lot of mental
perseverance which will help fortify individuals to face many of life’s
challenges.

It develops confidence and self-esteem.

Muay Thai is also good
for mental health because it develops confidence and self-esteem. There are
several reasons why. First and foremost, it gets women in better shape, making
them feel good about the way they look. With a lean, toned body as a result of
Muay Thai training, they can rock any outfit. Also, since training can be
difficult, those little achievements help increase self-confidence as they
getter better at the sport. When women make progress as a martial artist, it
develops their self-esteem. Confidence and self-esteem will also translate to
treating the body with the proper respect that it deserves, enabling
practitioners to make healthy lifestyle choices.

It helps boost productivity.

Muay Thai training helps
develop life skills and character traits that women can bring into the office
or home setting. Training instills discipline and perseverance, enabling women
to perform well, especially in a group setting. It also increases motivation,
increases optimism, and decreases self-doubt. These are all great traits to
have in the real world.

Muay Thai is a fun activity that is ideal even for women who don’t have a background in martial arts. Most practitioners say that it is so enjoyable that they forget that they are working out. For fitness enthusiasts, Muay Thai is a perfect activity that incorporates a variety of techniques, so exercising becomes fun and not tedious. Plus, there is a great sense of camaraderie and friendship that develops in a Muay Thai gym. It is a social sport, creating bonding moments for people who share the same fitness goals.